The United Nations is asking Indonesia to take the lead in the region to help cyclone-ravaged Myanmar cope with the disaster since Indonesia could draw on its experience with the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, local press said Saturday.
"Indonesia did amazing work in responding to the tsunami in Aceh and has become a leader in effective natural disaster response. Therefore, I would like UNESCAP to facilitate a strong Indonesian role in Myanmar," Noeleen Heyzer, executive director ofthe United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), was quoted by major newspaper The Jakarta Post as saying.
Heyzer, who is also under-secretary-general of the United Nations, said Myanmar needs considerable advice on coordinating a response the way Indonesia did for the tsunami.
"The tsunami was a dreadful disaster, but there was no further disaster from the spread of disease. People had water and food, and a good health system and sanitation. And there was a coordinated response of foreign aid from across the world," she said.
Heyzer said she was seeking to bring Indonesia and other countries to work together with UNESCAP in a regional cooperation framework to push the Myanmar to allow in more foreign aid.
"I am preparing to go to Myanmar to show my sympathy at this time and hopefully to talk with leaders there. I think it's time to bring in friends to provide the quickest and the most effective response for the people of Myanmar in this particular situation," she said.
More than 22,500 people were killed and 41,000 others went missing when the violent cyclone storm Nargis swept Myanmar's five divisions and states last weekend.
Source: Xinhua
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